Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle Moves Inland Across Cape York Peninsula as Category 3 System

Alert Details

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Tropical Cyclone Warning for Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (34U). Currently classified as a Category 3 system, the cyclone is moving inland across the Cape York Peninsula after crossing the Queensland coast earlier today.

Affected Areas

Warning Zone (Queensland): Cape York Peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, and between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw. This includes the communities of Coen, Weipa, and Aurukun.

Watch Zone (Northern Territory): Nhulunbuy to Port McArthur, including Borroloola, Numbulwar, Alyangula, Ngukurr, and Bulman.

What You Should Do

Residents within the warning zones should follow community threat procedures. This alert is specifically designed for land-based communities; mariners are advised to consult the separate coastal waters and high seas warnings. Residents in the watch zone should monitor conditions as gales are expected within 24 to 48 hours.

Expected Conditions

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is currently producing sustained winds near the center of 155 kilometres per hour, with very destructive wind gusts reaching up to 220 kilometres per hour. Destructive wind gusts of 160 kilometres per hour are likely in the region from south of Lockhart River to north of Cape Melville. The system is moving west at approximately 21 kilometres per hour.

Timeline

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the Queensland coast around 7:00 am AEST on Friday, March 20, as a Category 4 system. As of 10:00 am AEST, it was located 45 kilometres north of Coen. The storm is forecast to move west over the Cape York Peninsula throughout Friday while continuing to weaken. It is then expected to move across the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it is forecast to restrengthen into a severe tropical cyclone before impacting the eastern Northern Territory starting late Saturday.